Category — Film & Video

“A man from Fukuoka, a woman from Tokyo….” I had no idea what this sweet commercial was for up until the final 5 seconds! It’s based on an actual documentary that was filmed over a 1-month time span. Impressive and romantic!

In an announcement made last night, we learned that Studio Ghibli will be releasing a new film during the summer of 2010, two years since their last film, Ponyo. The film will be titled, The Borrower Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ) and will be based on the british tale The Borrowers, an enchanting story about miniature people living under the floorboards of a home.

Besides the fact that any new Ghibli release is newsworthy in my opinion, the real reason this story caught my attention was because I instantly recalled my parents reading this story to me as a child. Details are murky but I remember the excitement of how the little people would borrow items from their neighbors upstairs and use them in ways never thought of before. Toshio Suzuki, the producer of Ghibli movies since 1991, spoke at the press conference saying, “in a society based on mass-consumption of stuff, we thought the concept of borrowing was relevant for our times.”

It’s a well known fact that Hayao Miyazaki, as he grows old, has been passing the director baton to the up and coming. But I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed a non-Miyazaki directed Ghibli film. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be checking out the directorial debut of Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a previous animator for the company.

via Nikkei News

We recently had brunch at iCi with the talented, Brooklyn-based (yay!) creative director Kaori Sohma and I wanted to share her work because it’s not often we get to associate a name with the type of motion-based art she produces. If you have ever watched VH1 you are most likely – unawarely – familiar with the motion graphics she creates for upcoming shows or events.

Most recently she worked on the show open and promo packaging for VH1 Divas, which aired back in September. I love the way she tells a story, and builds up anticipation, typically without the use of words at all. Also be sure to check out her short films, all of which are available for viewing on her website.

VH1: Movies That Rock

adidas : 60 years of originality

My wife just sent me this clip (2004) from Toribia no Izumi, also known in its reincarnated life on Spike TV as Hey! Spring of Trivia. A research team scoured through 10,000 middle school textbooks (from several areas of study including history, science and music) and aggregated the graffiti/doodles into different categories.  The clip (Japanese only) is highly entertaining but for those of you who don’t care to watch, here are the top 3:
#3 – glasses and/or sunglasses
#2 – beards
#1 – speech bubbles

In each case prime victims appeared to be historical figures, but popular artwork and sculpture were not spared. I was surprised that poop, given that it is disproportionately easy to render versus comical effect, was not higher on the list.  It was 25th.

It would be really interesting to compare with a similar study conducted in the States. Any volunteers?

I just listened to this 3 times and each time something different resonates within me. The essay was originally written by Mary Schmich, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, and published in 1997.  As an introduction to the essay Schmich writes that it is the commencement speech she would give if ever invited to speak at a graduation. A year later it was adapted by Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge) in an album titled “Something for Everybody” and samples a song he used in Romeo + Juliet.

(the original animation can be seen HERE. I just liked the above better)

I think my favorite piece of advice is, “don’t worry about the future…the real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind…” oh yea, and of course, “floss.”

HERE is the original essay if you want to follow along. Although I recommend against it as all the google ads detract from the experience.

Thanks, Dad

PS My younger brother just graduated from college and is off to Vietnam for a year to teach English! I wish him all the luck, which he will not need as long as he follows this advice!

This is going to be a slightly nerdy post but I was so excited when, just yesterday, Kyoto’s Ryukoku University unveiled a digital archive of legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Consisting of over 20,000 photographs, manuscripts, notes and other artifacts, this is easily the most extensive database of memorabilia related to the director and his work, as well as a fascinating look behind the scenes.

The interface is surprisingly user-friendly, however it’s completely in Japanese. But if you are able to recognize some movie titles in Japanese you may be able to navigate around.

Check out these images from the set of The Seven Samurai…

…and this one from Rashomon…

…and these of Kurosawa in New York walking around Rockefeller Center! Right where I work!! AAHHH!

via Mainichi Daily News

What a  long-awaited iPhone app! The new Sushi Menu Book (iTunes) would be so helpful when you’re sitting at the counter of a posh sushi joint. If you’ve ever been to one of these places you’ll know that they never have menus. Gone are the days of ordering the osusume (ie: whatever the chef wants you to eat).

Released by Rightning Inc, the app is based on this book, which retails for about $13, into this app, which you can download for $4.

In his book When You Are Engulfed in Flames, published in 2008, David Sedaris has a chapter called Quitting Smoking in Japan, in which he humorously chronicles his experience living in Japan for 3 months. Here he is reading a few excerpts from that chapter on David Letterman. Hilariously  great way to end the week!

Fast-forward to about 5:50 for the reading.

Via Tokyo Mango

Holy hallucinatory awesomeness! Comic book author and visual artist (only in Japan do those 2 disciplines intersect) Katsuki Tanaka’s experimental film AltoVision was just released on Blue-ray. But you can watch a short segment on the website! I recommend full-screen, speakers turned up, the works. It’s quite an experience.

The film boasts some raving reviews by actor and overseas heartthrob Tadanobu Asano, as well as Academy Award nominee Rinko Kikuchi.

Thanks Mayu!

Happy Friday the 13th!! I just saw that Wowlab will be displaying an interactive installation titled Factory and Fantasy, at the Miyagi Museum of Art. The show opens next week on March 17th and runs till the 29th. They even created a trailer for the show that is incredibly beautiful yet eerily foreboding; perfect for today.

The experimental installation is a collaboration between architects, digital artists, musicians and scientists, and deals with the realities and fantasies of life.